Patrik Laine remains unsigned with training camp fast approaching, and he's far from the only notable name still on the board.
The new CBA brings 84 games and a shorter preseason this year, with the schedule opening September 29. Several established veterans still don't have a contract.
Laine is coming off a four-year deal worth $8,700,000 annually, and there's no way he commands anything close to that number now.
Over his last four seasons, Laine has played just 130 games out of a possible 248, with last year being the worst of all, just 5 games with the Canadiens.
A team like the Rangers or the Flyers taking a cheap flyer on his power play shot makes sense, if either is willing to live with the risk.
Evander Kane put up just 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points with the Canucks last season, a forgettable follow-up to his run in Edmonton.
Five unsigned NHL veterans who could become last-minute bargains
He's also been a lightning rod again this summer after former teammate Kurtis Gabriel publicly called him out.
Kane's previous deal carried a $5,125,000 cap hit, and he's likely staring at a real pay cut if any team steps up now.
The Penguins or the Capitals, both trying to squeeze more out of an aging core, could see the value in his edge despite the baggage.
Ryan Reaves sits at 962 career games, just 38 shy of 1,000, and has publicly said he wants one more season to get there.
His last deal was three years at $1,350,000, but a league-minimum contract or a training camp tryout feels far more realistic now.
The Maple Leafs make plenty of sense given his history there, if Toronto wants a depth veteran with locker room value.
James van Riemsdyk, now 37, has still managed 15-plus goals and 30-plus points in each of his last two seasons in a bottom-six role.
He signed for $1,000,000 with Detroit last summer, and a similar prove-it deal looks likely wherever he lands next, possibly with the Rangers or the Habs.
Vladimir Tarasenko found real chemistry playing alongside Kirill Kaprizov in Minnesota, posting 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points last season.
Replicating that fit elsewhere won't be easy, but a team like the Capitals with real playmaking down the middle could be worth watching.
Is it fair to expect any of these five to accept a pay cut this steep, or does pride keep some of them unsigned longer than it should?
It's the hockey equivalent of the last few unsold houses on a street once everyone assumed would be gone by August.
My take: at least two or three of these names get camp invites within the next two weeks. Teams rarely let this much experience sit idle for long.
Camp opens soon, and every one of these five will have to decide how much pride is worth sacrificing for a roster spot.
Source : 5 Big Names Still Unsigned Just 3 Weeks Out From The Season.
Would you want your favorite team to sign any of these five unsigned veterans?
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